The Social Media Journey
Guest Bloggers
Getting A Buzz From Social Media
Dec 16th
I would like to share a great story told to me by one of my followers James Biggin. James is the Managing Director of Steel City Marketing, a wonderful promotional gift company, who are exploring new media as a way to learn, connect and engage with their customers and prospects. Like all of us, James is on a journey and his experiences online are formulating the foundations of how social media can play a role within his companies infrastructure. Here is James story with a celebrity twist…
“When I first started dipping my toe into the social media pool, I didn’t have a plan or even the slightest clue as to what I was looking to achieve or how I was going to do it. I was officially dabbling.
I was quickly converted and now consider myself fully immersed, swimming in the social media sea! I don’t have this fully worked out. What I do know is how I can best manage this for my business and social life “for now”. This will constantly change and evolve.
Social media for my company now forms part of the daily routine. Meet, learn, engage, discuss, contribute, inform, promote and using only “the big 3”, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. I treat them separately as I am acutely aware of the different “audience” each has.
Every day, the aim in the back of my mind is of posting the “dream tweet” or the “blog of gold” – something positive that is picked up on, read by and used by many. Essentially to achieve the results it was intended for.
Something close to that happened on the 3rd December…
Although principally a business twitter account, I have always felt that it should be used to show more about the people and the personality of the company, so I thought about one tweet that was based around my little girl’s birthday. Snow had affected her day (not that she was upset), but there was no post, a main present hadn’t arrived, a meal out was cancelled and her party was looking unlikely. I tweeted just those facts, but rather than making it a sob story or a rant, I asked at the end if anyone could ask a pop star to call her at 5pm that day, the time specifically chosen as I was leaving work early to spend time with her and thought it might be great if I made that happen. I didn’t seriously think it would, I was “just tweeting”.
A 30 second tweet, then back to work. Looking back up at my screen 10 minutes later, I saw things I had never experienced. The RT’s and replies were coming in by the second. I mentioned this to a colleague and carried on working. I left work an hour after the tweet and I could see a serious amount of people had picked up on it and were getting involved. I told my wife (we nervously laughed at the possibility of a pop star phoning). Shortly after leaving the office, I received a tweet to say my account was UK trending. I burst out laughing and my little girl asked what was wrong. I replied, “Daddy has done something on Twitter”. By the time I arrived at home, Radio 5Live had called to find out more and to confirm they would interview me live on air that evening. I discovered my account was briefly the 2nd trending UK topic. A young actress had picked up on one of the RT’s and asked me for my mobile phone number. She later confirmed that Pixie Lott would call my daughter at 6pm! She did, it was amazing and Pixie knew nothing of the “tweet gone viral”, she was doing her friend a favour.
There are no words to describe how I felt; it was a true buzz.
Since that phone call, the local press ran the story, it was in the Metro (online and print) and was on Daily Mail online, the latter as a result of Pixie Lott’s press people realizing the size of the story and using it in interviews. By the end of all of this, a certain 6 year old was “tired of being famous”!
Why did this happen, at that moment, to me? Primarily because I wasn’t intending to make something go viral. The wording of the tweet was focused toward people I regularly engage with, hoping one or two would respond and reply. It wasn’t a sob story, I wasn’t feeling sorry for myself. It was factual. It was a normal tweet from my account in the same tone as always.
The message “hit the mark” with people I don’t know, people that don’t know my little girl, or me. They liked the idea, the sentiment and the reason for posting it. They did something about it, without being forced, without it being a hassle or a chore. And a lot of people did just that!
Had I put the same message on Facebook, “out there” to people I consider closest to, they would have just commented or “liked” the post. Nothing more. My Facebook post might not have asked “if a pop star could call her”, few friends would be able to help. This has demonstrated the different way people would see this type of content on Facebook. My separation of Facebook and Twitter is key to how I post and whom I post to. A message of this type would have had no place on LinkedIn, and to have tried would have confused that audience or weakened my position with that audience.
For a long time I have been clearly aware of the importance of embracing social media, but I hadn’t experienced it’s power first hand! It has proved to me that this has a serious place in my promotional gift business. There is no quick win or return. I have realized that for my company a measurable return on investment maybe some time off. It is about building relationships, something of a long-term strategy that I am happy to work on and do believe it will pay off”.
….James’s story is a great example of just how companies and individuals are learning and exploring the social space. Actions and outcomes equals lesson that can be applied to all aspects of your online journey and it could even make a little girls birthday 
Being yourself is more than enough
Aug 5th
I’ve always found it hard to hide my personality and for those of you who know me well you can probably understand why. As a young career woman and someone who has always wanted to be successful from an early age I was very aware that there was a ‘right’ way to conform in the business world.
I will never forget an interview that I had with a recruitment consultant called Ben who asked me to come into the office for a more formal interview before recommending me to his clients. We sat on a sofa (actually very informally) and I talked about my past experiences. We got along very well and even started to laugh about my achievements in sales previously where I was always top of the leader boards against a hundred salesmen. After giving it the large Ben then asked to see me in action, my heart sank as I’d actually not sold in a few years. He looked around the office till finally he set eyes on my oversized black bag. He said ‘sell me your bag’. The relief slowly washed over me as there was one thing I knew a lot about that was all things bags and shoes. My pitch went a little like this…
A black shiney timeless bag, never out of fashion and always unique. It goes with anything and everything and can be as little or as overstated as you wish with the right attire and a smile. Who would not want this bag?
Ben has since told me that this was one of the most memerable meetings of his career and he will never forget Becky who made him want to buy a man bag
It has always shocked me that one of the main reasons an employer would hire me was that I always left a lasting impression by not only having the skills required for the role but I’d also fit in well with the other staff and would bring some well needed energy.
I was always known for energising the office and was highly motivated to achieve great things. I aspired to be the best and enjoyed some light hearted office banter along the way.
Because of my enthusiasm and obvious work ethics it was never long before I was ready to progress my career to the next level. As soon as I was mixing with more senior leaders I was no longer allowed to be me but a clone of all those around me. What had made me different from the rest before had now been stripped away and I was told if I wanted to progress I had to start acting tougher, staying later (I worked 12 hour days already) and to stop having so much fun.
Even though I worked hard and took my job very seriously I often found myself feeling very dissatisfied. I learnt very quickly that if I was not enjoying myself then I could not perform at my best. I was actually exhausted from pretending to love my job and pretending to be someone else. I was always chasing my next promotion and felt no real drive after a while from working pay cheque to pay cheque. In fact once the fun had left the building it was not long after that I followed.
I have always been lucky enough to understand where my strengths and weaknesses lay (after learning from experiences) and that in this case if I was no longer passionate or having fun then I was not going to be successful and achieve great things.
Feeling a little lost while slowly loosing my self-belief I started looking at successful business people around me whom I admired not just as a business professional but as a person as well. I was invited round for dinner with Penny and Thomas Power (owners and founders of www.Ecademy.com) and Penny said something to me over dinner that really struck a cord…
” Becky, being yourself is more than enough, you just have to find something that is right for you and makes you happy, follow your heart”
As cliche and poetic as it sounds I knew then and there that I was going to start my own business doing something I love and doing it as me.
Since then I have attracted some fantastic people into my life who like me just the way I am. I’m lucky enough to work with people who quite frankly I do not need to impress. I work with integrity, professionalism and still encompass all the great attributes that I have always had but I have re-acquired my right to be myself and that has not only made my new business start to flourish but has made me very happy.
Someone who I admire for being themselves is Brad Burton the MD of 4Networking which is the fastest growing networking group in the world. He is also the author of the book ‘Get Of Your Arse’ which I read in about 2 days as I could just not put it down.
Take a look at this video where Brad also shares his views on being yourself in business.
Brad does have the Marmite effect but I absolutely love him!
Consistency of Brands across Social Media Platfoms by Andy Phillips
Jun 29th
Introducing Andy Phillips: I met Andy Phillips by accident in Starbucks when I was having coffee with his lovely wife Simone. Simone and I had discovered via Twitter (foursquare check in at The Belvedere Arms in Ascot) that we only lived around the corner from each other. While drinking coffee and getting lost in local gossip Andy decided to joined us before his meeting. I was asked what was next for me and I said that I have always wanted to have my own blog. Coincidentally Andy was a blog/SEO Whiz, he kindly offered to coach me through the process step by step to get me up and running. Andy was fantastic and patient (even when I was freaking out from an overdose of technology) and spent hours with me over Skype. I’m so grateful to have found Andy and would not have this blog without his expertise and valuable time. Thank you!
One of the major aspects of a Social Media Campaign is to have continuity across multiple platforms. The great video below provides you with a few tips on how to be consistent with your brand across multiple networks. [/stextbox]
Who is Andy Phillips?
Andy runs a successful Internet Marketing Business, provides Social Media Management and Internet Solution Services to Individuals, Entrepreneurs and Companies. He also is a speaker on Internet Marketing and Social Media and runs 1 and 2 day workshops training people is these skills. His company runs a free to join membership site and writes a blog. Andy is also a Property Investor and works alongside a number of companies in the property industry to provide “Below Market Value” Deals to clients along with other services.
‘Tell us something about you that no one or very few people know’
I play drums in the British Heavy Metal Band “Vine Messiah”
Visit www.andyphillipsblog.com
Website www.InternetMarketingWhizKidz.com
Join Andy on Facebook
@AndyPhillips101
4 Alternatives To Using Twitter’s Promoted Advertising, by Josh Chandler
Jun 21st
Introducing Josh Chandler After meeting Josh at a social media event and him kindly providing me with an iPhone charger (we all know those things need charging 5 times a day) we became event buddies. For 19 years old Josh has a great understanding of the business world and has already made his mark on the blogging world by breaking the acquisition of Summize by Twitter story in 2008. He is not afraid to speak his mind and this post is no different where he offers an alternative POV on Twitter Advertising
You may not agree with me, but I thought Pete Cashmore’s recent CNN column about Twitter advertising wasn’t great.
He called the addition of advertising in the trending topics of Twitter search ‘ingenious’.
Yeah right.
Regardless of how much it costs to get onto Twitter‘s trending topics, it’s just not something I would personally believe provides great R.O.I for small businesses.
Here’s why:
- You are artificially buying into Twitter’s premium real estate. It’s not because a lot of people are talking about your product or service. Unlike Google Adwords, you aren’t delivering an advert to a ‘targeted searcher’.
- You only move up the list of top searches on Twitter as you gain popularity. There is very little chance that a small business is going to likely generate that much buzz on Twitter.
So, what are the alternatives? As a small business owner you’ve got to ensure you get the most targeted traffic to your site in order to maintain high conversion rates.
1) Use Twitter for free advertising
It’s not necessary to pay Twitter (yet!) to promote your business. You can still set up a profile, post relevant updates to your niche and engage actively with your targeted audience.
Staples, an office products retailer reaches 34,762 people on Twitter. It has been able to use Twitter not only for customer service but also as a free promotion tool for its product. The company implements regular giveaways to encourage users to follow their Twitter account.
2) Launch a company blog and post frequently with relevant information
Nothing sells better then the peer to peer recommendation. It is imperative that small businesses launch a company blog. It provides a free portal to post corporate updates, reactions to industry developments and links out to other engaging industry resources.
Whole Foods uses its blog to share recipes and video tutorials around the topic of natural food. In an interview with Mashable.com in 2009 Bill Tolany, the company’s Senior Coordinator of Integrated Media said:
Whoever is managing an account needs to be authentic, allow his or her personality to come through, and have fun in the process.
If you read any of the blog posts on the Whole Foods Blog you’ll see they do a really great job at built a human connection. The unique aspect of launching a blog is that you can include all different types of interactive media. Employees can then embed videos, images and audio with ease.
3) Get a Small Business Listing on Google Maps
Google Maps is used every day by people who are either looking for personal usage or are trying to locate their nearest coffee shop. Starting from $25 a month, you can advertise your business with tags on Google Maps and Google.com.
The benefit of being on Google Maps is that you are placed directly in the view of millions of potential customers.
The introduction of Universal Search on the Google search results pages also means that if someone searches “Coffee Store London”, your business has a chance to appear in the listings with a link to the map.
4) Become actively involved in professional business organizations
If you know of any local meet ups or business networks, join them. This is free viral word of mouth with unlimited potential. One to one relationships always connect people on a far deeper level.
Become active in networking with others and be sure to create a 30-60 second pitch about your business.
You can use networks such as 4Networking, Meetup, LinkedIn
As you can see there are plenty of alternative opportunities besides Twitter Promoted Advertising. Seriously, I would personally recommend avoiding it, but you may have needs which can be matched by using it.
Here is what others have been saying about Twitter Promoted Advertising:
Twitter Promoted Tweets: Scandal Or Big Yawn?
Is Twitter’s Promoted Trends And Traffic Surge Causing Fail Whale?
Will Promoted Tweets Earn Twitter Revenue to Infinity and Beyond?
Have you got some thoughts on this post?
- Are you a small business using Twitter to advertise your business, if so how?
- What other alternatives can you suggest small businesses can advertise on the web
- Do you think Twitter Promoted Advertising in the trending topics is a great idea? If so why
Who is Josh Chandler?
Josh Chandler, 19 years old and living in the U.K. Currently run a virtual assistant website which launched in May 2010. Working on the web since the age of 16 and have maintained and contributed to several business and technology blogs. Find out more about me at LinkedIn
‘Tell us something about you that no one or very few people know’
I can play the saxophone
Visit www.joshchandlerblog.com
@joshchandler
Indigo Ventures: Being Better Businesses, By Rachel Willis
Jun 21st
Introducing Rachel Willis a wonderfully fresh and positive woman with a fantastic outlook on business life . I meet Rachel online and through our passion for people we have stayed connected and continue to collaborate. In this great blog Rachel talks about working on your business rather than in it and making positive steps towards Indigo Ventures with some steps on how to get there.
These are unprecedented times, with each and every one of us called upon to assess our contribution to the world. Do you make the world a better place? Or do you use its resources and energy for your own need, without thought to others?
Whilst these are important question for individuals, they are even more important for businesses, since businesses are collectively responsible for the majority of what is created in this world, as well as being employers for the vast majority of the world’s population.
Ironically, it is businesses that are the slowest to evolve. Whilst individuals are waking up and seeing the need for positive change and growth, businesses continue in their fearful, protectionist, hierarchical slumber.
So what can we do about it? The answer is twofold. As business leaders, our mission is to change the way our organisations are run, from the top down. And as individuals, our mission is to change the way our organisations are operated, from the bottom up!
What does the future of business look like?
It is diverse, ethical and equal. People are encouraged to utilise their unique gifts to maximum effect, and devote all their energies to them. If they are not interested in the finance or administrative side of their job, for example, then they quite simply won’t do that. “Won’t that mean that they don’t get done?” I hear you ask. Not at all, because there are a great many talented workers who enjoy finance or administrative tasks, they thrive on these, and are indeed excellent at them.
Therefore, surely it makes sense for each person to focus on their strengths – without judgement or comparison – and allow each to create from their heart with a sense of inspiration, freedom and ownership? And when I say create, this does not mean that these roles are limited to purely ‘creative’ jobs. That is a stereotype that is outdated. To continue the example, for a person who loves finance, a balance sheet is a creation, and for a person who loves administration, a PowerPoint presentation is also a creation.
When everyone focuses on his or her personal skills and talents, the world will become more efficient, productive and content. Businesses will do better, in all senses of the word. Qualitative and quantitative results will see a marked improvement, coupled with fewer sick days, greater wellbeing amongst the workforce and much lower staff turnover.
What is there not to embrace about this concept?
This is my modus operandi for what I term ‘Indigo Ventures’ – those that trailblaze this new, visionary way of being better businesses. Why Indigo? Because it’s the colour of vision, foresight and collective intelligence.
1. Know that honesty is the best policy
Every service is provided by people, for people. Every product is created by people, for people. People are at the heart of everything.
And Indigo Ventures know that people are not stupid; they can sense dishonesty, inauthenticity and immorality, so they extend everyone the decency of maintaining integrity at all times.
They are transparent in their communication, honest in their approach and courageously humble in both admitting and rectifying their shortcomings.
2. Are filled with happy, inspired people
You won’t find owners or employees of Indigo Ventures moaning about the weather whilst reading the newspaper with down-turned mouths. They know that in any situation there are always positive and creative possibilities. They deliberately choose to focus on the positive aspects so that these are magnified and attract even more positivity.
Therefore, they will usually be some of the most vital, interesting and vibrant people around, and mix with just the same type of individuals and businesses.
While they choose this network on purpose, it also happens naturally because by being happy and inspired themselves, they can’t help but attract the same.
They know that by surrounding themselves with happy, inspired people, they are creating a buzzing environment that automatically uplifts, cheers and inspires them.
3. Value each individual
Indigo Ventures value, respect and listen to every member of the team. They welcome their opinion and input, fairly reward their contribution, and acknowledge their equality within the group.
As such, they pool their strengths and work as a team; allowing people to freely utilise their talents and recognising the unique contribution of each individual.
4. Are custodial
Indigo Ventures take their leadership responsibilities seriously, and welcome their role as custodians of both the planet and its inhabitants.
They make environmentally aware choices, facilitate personal development, and support enterprise, progress and innovation.
5. Don’t take themselves too seriously
Indigo Ventures know that if success were directly correlated to how serious businesses took themselves, Apple, Virgin and Google would not be such renowned brands and world leaders.
Adding a splash of humour, glamour and fun are pre-requisites for their business, and not just reserved for Friday afternoons!
6. Empower others
Indigo Ventures know that collaboration, recognition and evolution are the most important elements of life, including business.
They talk the talk and walk the walk. They also empower others to do the same because they know it makes business – and the world as a whole – better for us all.
Empowerment leads to new visions and greater frontiers, and is based upon the founding philosophy that “a rising tide lifts all boats”.
7. Lead with passion
No matter how tough the situation, Indigo Ventures lead from the heart with the same passion that brought their business into creation.
They make choices and decisions from this place of loving inspiration, knowing that this will serve them – and others – best in the long run.
They accept the natural cycles of business evolution; yet use their passion of purpose as the powerful focus that sustains them through the highs and lows.
8. Trust in universal abundance
Indigo Ventures know that they create value by providing value. They trust that by focusing on the latter they shall enjoy an abundance of the former.
They know what they want, they trust in the universal abundance of all resources – money, people, knowledge and so on – and they know that by asking to partake in this supply, they are immediately aligned with receiving.
9. Are solution oriented
Indigo Ventures know that all answers are available, and to access them it is simply a matter of going back to basics and what they know to be true.
No matter what, they know there is always a way to evolve and move forwards, and they seek this at every opportunity.
When making decisions, finding solutions and dealing with problems, they trust their intuition – even when it seems to defy logic or possibility – as they know that business evolution is a spiral; even when it seems that they are taking steps backwards, the movement is always upward.
10. Believe in quality not quantity
Indigo Ventures know that more can be achieved with less. They choose to live in the flow, where creations appear effortlessly.
They empower each individual to manage their own time and use their internal compass to guide their day.
They do not force themselves to create, innovate or evolve; instead they trust that when they are inspired they can achieve greatness far beyond their original targets.
Who is Rachel Willis?
Rachel is the founder of Lightworker; the free online magazine to inspire, challenge and educate all who are dedicated to the art of positive living.
With a First in Economics and Finance, Chartered Accountancy qualification and passion for justice, evolution and opportunity, Rachel is perfectly placed to combine business and spiritual backgrounds to maximum effect by heading the growing Lightworker Group as it guides others to becoming the best they can be.
‘Tell us something about you that no one or very few people know’
My feet are only size 3, which allows me to indulge my passion for shoes and keeps my shoe room stocked with plenty of samples, bargain Choo’s and even a few pairs of children’s trainers!
Visit www.lightworkermag.com to read this month’s Fulfilment edition
Rachel@lightworkermag.com
+447515 388688
@RachelWillisUK and @LightworkerMag
facebook/com/lightworkermag
